JANUARY 2025
Jonathan Vontsteen, a May 2024 graduate of the doctoral program in developmental education at Texas State University, has been honored with the Susan E. Hashway Outstanding Dissertation Award. The accolade, presented annually by the National Organization for Student Success, recognizes exceptional research contributions in devvelopmental education and student support.
FEBRUARY 2025
George Paul “Jeep” Wentsch, a Texas State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration, has been named to Parks & Recreation magazine's prestigious “30 Under 30” list for 2025. The annual recognition, a joint effort by the National Recreation and Park Association's Young Professional Network and Parks & Recreation magazine, highlights rising stars in the recreation field.
MARCH 2025
Texas State University's College of Education is offering an accelerated online principal certification program through its Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education and School Psychology. The 18-credit-hour post-master's program is designed to prepare equity-focused campus leaders through a largely online format.
APRIL 2025
Mathilde Coquillaud-Salomon's journey, from her youth in Nantes, France, to becoming an aspiring athletic trainer at Texas State University, showcases a remarkable blend of dedication and passion for sports.
MAY 2025
Ten student in TXST's McNair Scholars Program, a federal TRIO program funded by the U.S. Department of Education, recently graduated during spring commencement ceremonies in May. The program was created in 1989 to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities.
JUNE 2025
Summer is typically viewed as a season of rest and relaxation, but in the field of recreation that is rarely the case. Summer is full of camps, park concerts, and special events for all to enjoy. For the TXST Recreational Therapy Program, Summer 2025 was a season of growth and achievement.
JULY 2025
Dr. Clarena Larrotta received the 2025 Everette Swinney Faculty Senate Excellence in Teaching Award from TXST's Faculty Senate in recognition of her work and accomplishments in the Department of Counseling Leadership, Adult Education and School Psychology.
AUGUST 2025
TXST became the first and one of only two centers of excellence in the United States recognized by the World Leisure Organization. Inclusion in the WLO as a center of excellence opens up opportunities in networking, education, and research within the global physical fitness community.
SEPTEMBER 2025
A Rockdale, Texas, native pursuing a double major degree in Public Health and Spanish at TXST completed a fellowship through the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health attending the Applied Risk Communication for the 21st Century program.
OCTOBER 2025
TXST's TRIO programs and Opportunity Austin partnered to host career workshops and employer panels across in-demand industries to set up pre-collegiate students for success when selecting their college majors and career paths.
NOVEMBER 2025
As part of an Introduction to Outdoor Recreation course in the Recreation and Sports Management program, students traded the classroom for the campus grounds to join in the annual San Marcos Arbor Day celebration. The hands-on event supported the university's long-held designation as a Tree Campus Higher Education Institution.
DECEMBER 2025
Texas native Heather Renee Bardwell started her education career after graduating with a bachelor's degree in education from Texas State University in 1999. While she embarked on her education career more than two decades ago in southeast Texas, Bardwell has since brought her Texas charm east where she has excelled as an educator in the northern Alabama region.